BCC graduates face the future at 47th commencement

More than 1,000 graduates received their associate's degrees and certificates during BCC's 47th commencement ceremony

Brian Fraga Herald News Staff Reporter @BfragaHN

FALL RIVER — Thomas J. Giglio said he always wanted to go back to school, but admitted that fear held him back.

It was not until the birth of his son in 2011 that Giglio, a retail manager, decided to “kick the doors” wide open to his future and become a stay-at-home-dad and a full-time student in Bristol Community College’s clinical laboratory science program. On Saturday, Giglio, a married father of two from Fall River, graduated with honors as valedictorian of BCC’s Class of 2014.

“This journey hasn’t been the easiest, but here I am,” Giglio said. “I think it’s safe to say, I did my best.”

More than 1,000 graduates could say the same as they received their associate's degrees and certificates during BCC’s 47th commencement ceremony, which was held Saturday at the school’s Fall River campus.

BCC President John J. Sbrega congratulated the Class of 2014 and welcomed the graduates’ loved ones. In his remarks, Sbrega stressed initiative and persistence to describe the students’ individual journeys to a college degree.

“Not everyone understands or appreciates the mission of community colleges to provide access through our cherished principle of the open door as well as quality and affordability,” said Sbrega, who also asked graduates to stand if they were the first in their families to attend college or complete high school. More than half of the Class of 2014 responded.

“Congratulations to each of you. Let us hope today, with this accomplishment, you are starting a new cycle of educational attainment for your family, and for generations to come. You are setting new precedents for all of your relatives. Each of you is a role model,” Sbrega said.

During the ceremony, the BCC administration also acknowledged the appointment of two retired faculty members as professors emeriti: Daniel Gilbarg, professor emeritus of sociology, and Diane Silveria, professor emerita of nursing.

Judge Philip Rapoza of Dartmouth, the chief justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and Carlton M. Viveiros, the clerk magistrate of the Southeastern Housing Court, received honorary associate degrees in humane letters. Dr. David S. Greer and his wife, Marion C. Greer, — both former BCC trustees — received the John J. Sbrega, Ph.D., Exemplary Service Award. State Sen. Michael Rodrigues was honored with BCC’s Distinguished Citizen Award.

The Class of 2014 selected assistant professor of mathematics Kirk J. Higham to deliver the “Last Lecture.” Jason Sayde, the president of the BCC Student Senate, introduced Higham. However, before doing so, Sayde took out his smartphone and said, “But first, let me take a selfie.” Sayde then took a picture of himself and Sbrega, who told the graduates to look for the picture on social media, with the hashtag #BCC14.

“I’ve never uttered those words before at a commencement,” Sbrega said.

Meanwhile, Higham told the graduates that their accomplishments at BCC had provided them with two “equally important pieces of knowledge”: academic knowledge and wisdom.

“Since all of your definitions of success included attending BCC, whether you earned a degree in English, science, art or mathematics, you all have learned something,” Higham said. “To start, you learned that in order to achieve success, you need to be willing to take a calculated risk.”

JoAnn Aviles, 38, of New Bedford, a single mother of two, graduated Saturday with a certificate in thanatology, the science or study of death. Aviles said she plans to enter the funeral home business, and added that she already had a job interview scheduled for Monday.

“I’m a little nervous, but I’m going to do it,” said Aviles, who worked as a certified nursing assistant before she decided to return to school.

“This is my door in to a new career,” Aviles said.

Meanwhile, Dulce Matos, 54, of New Bedford, received a certificate after completing a two-year program in Portuguese-English community interpreting. Matos owns a hair and tanning salon in New Bedford, and said she wanted to get her certificate in part to show her grandchildren the importance of not giving up on their education.